Page 95 of Garden of Rage and Ruin
“He was the finest alpha this area has ever seen. I hope to be as good as he and my father were,” the man adds.
“You remind me of him,” I say, noticing the same hair and eyes that I remember.
“He must have been extraordinarily handsome,” Sebastian says with a laugh.
“That, he was.” My mind wanders through the memories of our time together. Simon and Cyrus are bits of my memory that I keep to myself. They were the glue that held me together when I thought my life was over. I fight the emotions that come with theirmemory, even now.
“Oh!” Sebastian stands straight. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.”
“For me?” He disappears into the house, returning a few minutes later with a wrinkled white envelope.
“This has been in the house since I can remember. I was told that when the time was right, you would come back. When that happened, I was to give this to you.” He hands me the wrinkled paper. My name is neatly written in script:Violet Du Four. “No one knows where it came from.”
“Thank you, Sebastian.” I slide the letter into my bag and stand from the familiar bench. “I need to go.” I look around the garden, recognizing some of the bushes and trees Cyrus cared for a century ago. “The house looks beautiful,” I say before disappearing through the heavy gate.
Alone in my car, I pull the letter from my bag. The edges are wrinkled, and the color has faded to an off-white, but I feel the familiar energy of the sender through the paper. I carefully open the envelope and unfold what’s inside.
Violet,
Thank you for saving me when there was no easy path. I’m sorry for what happened to Cyrus and the wolves. I saw what was coming before we ever set foot into the attic,but sadly, there was no other ending in which Callum would die. Some choices are cruel, no matter how carefully they are made. You did well. I’m so proud of you.
Lucien and I are going somewhere safe. When the time is right, I will find a way to reconnect with you. Until then, let this be enough to know that we’re alive, and we remember. I love you, and I will return one day.
Terrin
I wipe a stray tear and carefully return the letter to its home. “Okay, Terrin. I’m ready when you are,” I whisper to the universe.
